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BRUCE GARRIOCH, QMI Agency

Nov 17, 2012

, Last Updated: 11:58 PM ET

OTTAWA - Even if the NHL returns to action this winter, you won’t get to see Jared Cowen at Scotiabank Place before next September.

As reported by the Sun Tuesday, the Senators’ big blueliner is gone for the season after he had hip surgery Saturday in New York to repair a torn labrum he suffered in Binghamton that’s expected to keep him out of action 6-8 months.

The 21-year-old Cowen suffered the injury Oct. 19 against the Hershey Bears. The Senators were initially hopeful he’d be able to get rest and be able to return, but a specialist in New York confirmed surgery was the only route.

“It’s quite a long-term injury. It appears that he would not be able to play at all this year, whether there’s games in the NHL or in the (AHL),” said Senators GM Bryan Murray. “That, in itself, is disappointing.

“The length is one of the items that we’ll monitor closely and we want to make sure that he’s completely ready to play when he steps on the ice again.”

Murray said the injury has nothing to do with the ACL surgery the 6-foot-5 Cowen had while playing junior with the WHL’s Spokane Chiefs in 2008-09. He was selected No. 9 overall by the Senators in the NHL draft that spring.

“It’s been made very clear there’s no relationship whatsoever,” said Murray. “It’s just one of those things. He did take a hit and a little later on in a freaky kind of situation he felt a pop. After much evaluation, and finally going to a doctor in New York, we were told there’s no result other than have surgery.”

Losing Cowen is a big blow. He played in all 82 games last season and saw his role expand as the year went on.

As a result of changes on the blue line this off-season, Cowen would likely have seen an increase in playing time in 2012-13.

The Senators assigned him to Binghamton during the lockout because he was on a two-way contract and Murray didn’t want Cowen sitting around waiting to play with locked-out players while he could be developing.

“We’re disappointed for Jared,” said Murray. “This was a big year for him to get more playing time in Binghamton until we’re going to play in the NHL.

“It’s disappointing from his point of view and very disappointing from the organization’s point of view in that a good, young player is going to be sidelined for a (long) period of time.”

The injury means Murray is going to have to look at the club’s options on the blue line.

The Senators signed Mike Lundin from the Wild as a free agent, but lost Matt Carkner to the Islanders as an unrestricted free agent.

Cowen’s injury could mean a break for a current Binghamton defenceman.

Murray said the club will keep a close eye on the AHL, where Andre Benoit, Mark Borowiecki, Patrick Wiercioch and Eric Gryba may all get a chance to push for playing time here.

“It certainly opens the door, not that we wanted to open the door, but it certainly opens the door for another candidate,” said Murray. “We think we have some good young players coming. It will accelerate that opportunity if there’s NHL games this year.

“Very definitely there are three or four people down there that will look like they are NHL ready or very close and this will give them a light at the end of the tunnel for opportunity.”